Wireless Messaging System

Abstract

Messages are routed via a cellular communications network to multiple cellular communications receivers configured for answering calls placed to a common subscriber number, such that a message originated with a single cellular call may reach multiple recipients. The geographic area of message distribution may be controlled by selectively enabling different cell sites for calling particular subscriber numbers. The cellular receivers may have message storage capabilities for subsequent replay of received messages. Message storage may be provided by downloading messages to a conventional telephone answering device also connected for landline telephone call answering, thereby adding received cellular messages to recorded landline telephone messages.

What is claimed as new is: 
     
         1 . A cellular wireless messaging system adapted for addressing multiple cellular receivers by originating a single cellular call to a pre-assigned group broadcast number, comprising:
 a cellular radio communications network including a plurality of cellsites for routing cellular calls addressed to one or more subscriber cellular telephone numbers within a geographic area of coverage of said cellsites, wherein presence and location of individual active cellular telephone handsets is monitored relative to different ones of said cellsites such that a call directed to a particular cellular telephone number can be routed through an appropriate one of said cellsites within range of a handset corresponding to said particular cellular telephone number;   a subset of said subscriber cellular telephone numbers reserved for assignment to broadcast subscribers of said network; and   a plurality of cellular radio communications receivers distributed within said geographic area of coverage and responsive to communications channel assignment control signals transmitted by said cellsites, each configured to automatically accept cellular calls addressed by said cellsites to a same one of said cellular telephone numbers within said subset such that multiple of said cellular radio receivers may each receive a particular cellular call addressed to a single cellular telephone number within said subset, thereby enabling a cellular telephone call to be sent to multiple cellular receivers by originating a single cellular call;   each of said cellular radio communications receivers being user programmable for answering cellular calls placed to one or more user selected ones of said cellular telephone numbers within said subset;   wherein each subscriber cellular telephone numbers in said subset assigned to a corresponding broadcast subscriber has an assigned area of cellular coverage chosen by said subscriber including one or more of said selected cellsites.   
     
     
         2 . The cellular wireless messaging system of  claim 1  wherein calls placed to a particular one of said subscriber cellular telephone numbers is routed to said one or more selected cellsites without verification of the presence of said cellular radio communications receivers within said assigned area of coverage.